Double-barrelled firearms

ABSTRACT

Disposed on a stationary block is a pivoting trigger whose arms co-operate with two tappets each bearing on a transmission member acting on a vertical rod for operating the sear controlling the hammer. The tappets are disposed in two parallel planes so that the system may be of use in a double-barrelled firearm whose sears and hammers are disposed in side-by-side relationship.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,879,877 Cizeron Apr. 29, 1975 [54] DOUBLE-BARRELLED FIREARMS 1,649,888 ll/l927 Byrnes 412/42 R 2,79 3 F 4 2 [76] Inventor: Jean Cizeron, 2 rue de 11 I O5 5/1957 ay 2/4 R N b t- F Ovem re Sam Etlenne mnce Primary E.\'ummerBen am1n A. Borchelt Filedi y 1973 Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Appl NO: 363 262 Attorney, Agent, or FirmDowell and Dowell [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT May 31, 1972 France 72.20195 Disposed a Stationary block is a pivoting trigger whose arms co-operate with two tappets each bearing [52] US. Cl 42/42 R on a transmission member acting on a Vertical rod for 51 1m. 01. F411: 19/00 Operating the sear Controlling the hammer- The p- [58] Field of Search 42/42 R P are disposed in two parallel Planes 80 that the y tem may be of use in a double-barrelled firearm whose 5 References Cited sears and hammers are disposed in side-by-side rela- UNITED STATES PATENTS 610.569 9/1898 Thompson 42/42 R 9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures A .r: 7 I

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DOUBLE-BARRELLED FIREARMS This invention is for improvements in or relating to double-barrelled firearms, inter alia shot guns whose barrels are disposed one beside another or one above another.

As a rule, shot guns have two triggers; they are disposed one behind the other inside a trigger guard. Each trigger is associated with the firing of one of the two barrels; for instance, the front trigger can release the hammer operating the firing pin of the barrel whose diameter is such as to cause a wide scattering of the shot, whereas the back trigger fires the other barrel, i.e., the barrel for long-distance shooting, since the shot is brought together due to a slight reduction in barrel bore near the barrel exit orifice.

Depending on whether the game starts near to or far from the hunter, the latter must choose the barrel to be fired and therefore press the corresponding trigger. Clearly, this is an operation which takes some time.

In endeavours to shorten the time, consecutive firing of both barrels has been controlled by means of a single trigger. A difficulty which then arises is selecting the barrel to be fired. Most of the selection systems for this purpose comprise a selector whose control button or knob is disposed somewhere on the gun butt. The gun user therefore has to operate the selector knob or button according to the barrel which he wants to fire.

Clearly, systems of this kind do not completely solve the problem associated with conventional doubletrigger firearms.

The improvements according to this invention lead to a double-barrelled firearm having a single trigger so devised that the user selects the shot he wants by action on the trigger with his finger. Trigger operation and trigger choice are therefore simultaneous.

According to a main feature of the double-barrelled firearm according to this invention, the firearm has a single trigger comprising a single actuating surface so devised that the user can select which of the two shots he wants just by acting on such surface with his finger in one of two predetermined directions.

In a preferred form of the feature just described, the trigger is in the form of a member which can pivot relatively to a horizontally extending central pivot pin and which has arms disposed in extension of one another, each arm being associated with a tappet adapted to operate the sear of the firing pin of the corresponding barrel.

The features of the invention and the advantages which the same can provide can be more readily gathered from the accompanying exemplary drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in partial section of a firearm using the improvements according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section on the line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a variant;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing the operation of the variant shown in FIG. 3, and

FIGS. 6 and 7 show two more variants of the invention.

The double-barrelled firearm, some of which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, has a portion comprising two barrels l, 2 disposed one above another, and a butt 3 in which a conventional firing mechanism is disposed.

The firing mechanism comprises two sears 4, 4' each cooperating with a hammer 5, 5 acting via a tappet 7,

7' to operate a firing pin 6, 6'. Pin 6 is adapted to fire the shot contained in a cartridge in barrel 2, and pin 6' is associated with the barrel 1. The hammers 5, 5' are biased by means of springs 8, 8' respectively which act on wedges 9, 9 respectively. No further details will be given of this mechanism, which is familiar in the armaments art.

A metal block III is secured by screws 12 within a trigger guard 10 which is disposed underneath the butt 3 near the zone where the same joins the stock comprising the barrels I, 2. Block 11 has a transverse bore 13 into which two vertical passageways 14, 15 disposed one beside another are disposed, as well as two ways 16, 17 which extend from bore 13 towards the barrels. The passage 14 and the way 16, the passage 15 and the way 17 are disposed in two parallel vertical planes. On the surface near the barrels the block 11 has a pivot block 18 through which a horizontal pin 19 extends. A trigger 20 is pivotably mounted by means of pin 19 and has two arms which are disposed one in extension of the other and which are disposed substantially vertically and which define a surface 21 with which the users finger is in contact to operate the trigger 20. Tappets 22, 23 are received in the ways 16, 17 respectively and a rod 24, 25 is received in each passage 14, 15 respectively. Disposed in bore .13 are two transmission members 26, 27 which in cross-section have the shape of a circle sector and whose inclined surfaces cooperate with tappet 22 and rod 24- and with tappet 23 and rod 25, respectively. The two orifices of passage 13 are closed by plugs 28 which retain the members 26, 27 in engagement with one another but with sufficient clearance for them to shift.

Operation is as follows:

To fire, for instance, the barrel 1, all that the user needs to do is to press the top arm of trigger 20. This leads to an axial movement of tappet 23 so that transmission member 27 moves along the inside wall of the bore 13 to raise rod 25. The top end thereof bears on the tail of sear 4, the same rotating around its axis against the force of a spring strip 29. Hammer 5' is therefore released and firing pin 6' issues from its recess to fire the igniting charge of the cartridge. To fire barrel 2, all the user has to do is to move his finger vertically to operate the bottom arm of trigger 20. Clearly, therefore, a hunter can select the shot he needs very fast and fire both shots substantially simultaneously.

In the variant shown in FIG. 3, a block 30 basically similar to the block 11 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 is disposed inside the trigger guard 10 and comprises more particularly a pivot block 30 in which the trigger 20 is mounted for pivoting. The block 30 has, in the part opposite the member 31, a second pivot block 32 bearing the horizontally extending pin 33 around which two substantially vertical side-by-side levers 34, 35 can pivot. Extending through block 30 are two horizontal bores 36, 37 which are disposed lengthwise relatively to the firearm and which are so offset from one another that tappets 38, 39 received in them cooperate with the levers 34, 35 respectively. As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, each lever 34-35 is biased, e.g. by means of a respective spiral spring 40, 41 tending so to rotate the corresponding lever that the tappets 38, 39 are urged towards the trigger 20. When the firearm is in its cocked state, its sears 42, 42' rest on the top end of the respective levers 34, 35 by way of an end heel or abutment 42a, 42'a respectively.

Operation is as follows:

To fire the barrel associated with sear 42, the user presses trigger upwards; tappet 38 therefore moves to the rear to pivot lever 34 to the rear and to pivot sear 42 against the biasing of the spring strip 29, so that the corresponding hammer is released. To operate the firing pin controlled by seal 42', the user presses the trigger 20 downwardly so as to push back the tappet 39 in order to pivot the lever 35 whose top end releases the abutment or heel 42'a. The sear 42' pivots clockwise and the hammer can strike the corresponding firing pm.

In the variant shown in FIG. 6, instead of the trigger 20 of FIGS. 1 and 3 there are two levers 45, 44 which are disposed in vertically inverted relationship to one another and which are mounted for pivoting around horizontal pivot pins 45, 46 respectively rigidly secured to the block 11; one pivot pin is disposed immediately below the butt and the other is disposed near the trigger guard 10. Appropriate springs, such as spiral springs 47, 48, bias each lever into engagement with the tappets 22, 23.

In a variant shown in FIG. 7, each sear 4, 4' cooperates with a right-angled bell-crank lever 49, 50 respectively rockable around a pivot pin 51; the vertical arm of each such lever has a teat 52, 53 respectively. The two levers 49, 50 are disposed one beside another on the pin 51, and a frame 54 rigidly secured to a trigger 55 extends between the two levers 49, 50. The righthand inside surface of frame 54 i.e., the frame surface which is opposite the trigger 55 is formed with a V-shaped recess 54a in which the cross-arm of a stationary stirrup-shaped member 56 rigidly secured to a lug 57 associated with the butt 3 bears. A compression spring 58 biases frame 54 towards the barrels of the firearm. The left-hand inside surface of frame 54 i.e., the surface associated with the trigger 55 has a rounded bead 54b which extends towards the recess 54a. Normally the bead 54b is maintained in equilibrium by being thrust against the periphery of a stationary cylindrical pin 59. The bottom member of frame 54 bears a rod 60 which extends beyond each side of the frame side surfaces so as to be opposite each lever 49, 50.

Operation is as follows:

When the user presses the trigger 55 downwardly, the bead 54b also moves downwardly and acts as a cam which guides the trigger and its frame 54 inclinedly and rearwardly. The rod 60 therefore engages with teat 53 of lever 50, which so pivots around its pin 51 that its horizontal arm rises and tilts the sear 4 to release the corresponding hammer. When the gun user relaxes his pressure on the trigger, the spring 58 returns the trigger 55 to the position shown in FIG. 7. If the user operates the trigger upwardly, rod 60 contacts teat 52 of lever 49, which pivots and releases the corresponding hammer in the manner just described with reference to the lever 50.

The foregoing description is of course purely exemplary and does not limit the scope of the invention; replacement of the constructional details described by equivalent means of any kind does not constitute a departure from the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A double-barrelled firearm comprising:

a butt provided with a conventional firing mechanism having two sears disposed side by side;

a trigger guard located underneath said butt;

a metal block mounted beneath said butt, said metal block having two substantially horizontal ways opening into a transverse bore from which extend two vertical passages disposed one beside the other under said sears;

trigger means pivotally mounted opposite said horizontal ways and having arms disposed substantially vertically;

two rocking transmission members disposed in said bore and having in cross section the shape of a sector of a circle and having two inclined surfaces;

tappet means in the ways connecting the trigger arms to the transmission members; and

rod means in the passages connecting the transmission members to the sears.

2. In a firearm as claimed in claim 1, said tappet means comprising two tappets each having two free ends, the first free end of each said tappet bearing respectively against a different one of the trigger arms, while each second free end of each tappet engages one inclined surface of its related transmission member.

3. In a firearm as claimed in claim 2, said rod means comprising two rods each having two free ends, the lower free end of each said rod resting respectively against the other inclined surface of its related transmission member, while the upper free end of each rod rests against its related sear of said conventional firing mechanism.

4. In a firearm as claimed in claim 3, the trigger means comprising two bent levers pivoted at their ends and disposed in vertically inverted relationship to one another in said trigger guard, each lever being associated with one of said tappets.

5. A double-barrelled firearm comprising:

a single moving trigger having two arms disposed sub stantially vertically;

a butt provided with a conventional firing mechanism having two sears disposed side by side;

a trigger guard located underneath said butt;

a metal block on which said trigger is pivotally mounted, said block having two lengthwise offset bores, one situated in its upper portion, the other in the lower portion, and having a horizontal transverse pin;

two tappets in said bores respectively, each having two free ends, one of which ends bears against its related arm of said single trigger; and

two biased rocking levers pivoted about said transverse pin each operating its related sear.

6. In a firearm as claimed in claim 5, each sear having a heel resting on the top end of its related lever.

7. In a double-barrelled firearm as claimed in claim 6, said sear operation being effected by release of said lever.

8. A double-barrelled firearm comprising:

a butt provided with a conventional firing mechanism having two sears disposed side by side;

a trigger guard located underneath said butt and having two stationary transverse cylindrical pins;

a single trigger solid with a frame having two vertical legs;

two rockable right-angled bell-crank levers each having a teat on its vertical arm;

a stirrup shaped member rigidly secured to said butt and including means to bias said trigger forwardly 9. In a firearm as claimed in claim 8, the internal surface of one vertical leg of said. frame having a bead bearing against one of said transverse cylindrical pins, while the internal surface of the other leg is provided with a recess, opposite to the bead, receiving the second cylindrical pin of the trigger guard. 

1. A double-barrelled firearm comprising: a butt provided with a conventional firing mechanism having two sears disposed side by side; a trigger guard located underneath said butt; a metal block mounted beneath said butt, said metal block having two substantially horizontal ways opening into a transverse bore from which extend two vertical passages disposed one beside the other under said sears; trigger means pivotally mounted opposite said horizontal ways and having arms disposed substantially vertically; two rocking transmission members disposed in said bore and having in cross section the shape of a sector of a circle and having two inclined surfaces; tappet means in the ways connecting the trigger arms to the transmission members; and rod means in the passages connecting the transmission members to the sears.
 2. In a firearm as claimed in claim 1, said tappet means comprising two tappets each having two free ends, the first free end of each said tappet bearing resPectively against a different one of the trigger arms, while each second free end of each tappet engages one inclined surface of its related transmission member.
 3. In a firearm as claimed in claim 2, said rod means comprising two rods each having two free ends, the lower free end of each said rod resting respectively against the other inclined surface of its related transmission member, while the upper free end of each rod rests against its related sear of said conventional firing mechanism.
 4. In a firearm as claimed in claim 3, the trigger means comprising two bent levers pivoted at their ends and disposed in vertically inverted relationship to one another in said trigger guard, each lever being associated with one of said tappets.
 5. A double-barrelled firearm comprising: a single moving trigger having two arms disposed substantially vertically; a butt provided with a conventional firing mechanism having two sears disposed side by side; a trigger guard located underneath said butt; a metal block on which said trigger is pivotally mounted, said block having two lengthwise offset bores, one situated in its upper portion, the other in the lower portion, and having a horizontal transverse pin; two tappets in said bores respectively, each having two free ends, one of which ends bears against its related arm of said single trigger; and two biased rocking levers pivoted about said transverse pin each operating its related sear.
 6. In a firearm as claimed in claim 5, each sear having a heel resting on the top end of its related lever.
 7. In a double-barrelled firearm as claimed in claim 6, said sear operation being effected by release of said lever.
 8. A double-barrelled firearm comprising: a butt provided with a conventional firing mechanism having two sears disposed side by side; a trigger guard located underneath said butt and having two stationary transverse cylindrical pins; a single trigger solid with a frame having two vertical legs; two rockable right-angled bell-crank levers each having a teat on its vertical arm; a stirrup shaped member rigidly secured to said butt and including means to bias said trigger forwardly so that the frame stops against the pins of said trigger guard; and said frame of said trigger having rod means disposed to actuate the teat on one lever when the trigger is rocked upwardly and disposed to actuate the teat on the other lever when the trigger is rocked downwardly.
 9. In a firearm as claimed in claim 8, the internal surface of one vertical leg of said frame having a bead bearing against one of said transverse cylindrical pins, while the internal surface of the other leg is provided with a recess, opposite to the bead, receiving the second cylindrical pin of the trigger guard. 